Environment and genes equally associated with autism
The extension of the nature versus nurture debate pertaining to autism has been going on since a few years now. Whether its the environmental factors or genes that play the chief role in determining if the child will have autism has been repeatedly asked with no concrete answers. In a path-breaking new research published by the researchers that collaborated from King’s College of London, Karolinska Institute of Sweden and Mount Sinai of USA, more than 2 million people were studied lead by Prof. Avi Reichenberg of Mount Sinao Seaver Center for Autism Research. This largest ever study conducted on autism showed that a child with a sibling having autism was at 10 times greater risk of having autism; if its a half-brother/sister having autism then the risk comes down to 3 times and only 2 times if its a cousin having autism.
The study concluded that the risk of autism was 50% genetic and 50% attributable to environmental factors. At the genetic level, the risk of having a child with autism increases steadily with genetic proximity. The study gives a strong platform for clinicians to counsel prospective parents who already have a child with autism. More on this story can be read at Autism Daily Newscast here as well as Mount Sinai press release here.
Weak immune cells-granulocytes, part of autism, study reveals
The human immunity system is made of numerous cells like granulocytes, monocytes, etc that fight foreign agents like viruses and bacteria and keep us healthy. In a new study published in the journal Pediatrics, it has been discovered that the granulocytes function at only one-third their fighting capacity in children with autism compared to typically developing children. Lead author Eleonora Napoli, from the Department of Molecular Biosciences at the UC Davis School of Veterinary Medicine, found that the granulocytes took much longer to produce the reactive oxidants and released them in weaker potency. Another sign pointing towards weakened mitochondrial function of granulocytes was that the mitcohondria consumed lesser oxygen as compared to those of typical children. Mitochondria are commonly termed as the ‘powerhouse’of the cell and are responsible for generating energy to sustain the cell’s activities. Decreased functioning of this vital cell organelle just points towards a weakened overall synthetic, metabolic and immune functioning of the cells and thus the body.
Minority autism children tend to regress more than whites
Exploring the racial component of autism, a new study presented by researchers Adiaha Spinks Franklin and her team from the Baylor College of Medicine, Houston and Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, has fund that compared to white children with autism, children from black and Hispanic communities regressed much more for lack of insurance, primary caregiver training, etc. Non-hispanic blacks were at double the risk of regression when compared with non-Hispanic white kids. Also, Hispanic children in general were at a 1.5 times greater risk of regression compared to non-Hispanic children. In general, of the 1353 preschool-age children who were studied, over a quarter of the children manifested signs of developmental regression.
The study throws light on the racial disparities that add to the worries of the parents facing everyday challenges in raising children with autism. The study was presented at the Pediatric Academic Societies annual meet at Vancouver this week. More on this story can be read at Autism Daily Newscast here.
Siblings ten times more likely to have autism new study reveals
As reported by Autism Daily Newscast earlier this week, the largest study of its kind has revealed that children diagnosed with autism are ten times more likely to have siblings also diagnosed on the spectrum. Researchers at Kings College London and Karolinska Institute in Stockholm found that the risk triples if there is a half-brother or sister or a cousin with a diagnosis.
Study looks at classification of children with ASD by sensory subtype
A study published March 17th in the International Society for Autism Research examines whether sensory differences can be used to classify meaningful subgroups of children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). The largest group, making up 40 percent of the children studied, shows acute sensitivity to taste and smell. A second group, comprising 10 percent of the children, has extremely low energy and difficulty maintaining an upright posture. Both of these groups have moderate trouble filtering sounds from noisy environments and seek sensation by touching objects or people and making noise. A third group, making up 12 percent of the children, shows all of these traits. They conclude classification of children using sensory differences offers a promising method by which to identify phenotypes in ASD.